Happy 9th Birthday Heidi

 Her birthday post is long over due..... about 10 days.... she turned 9 on May 1st.

She has been wanting to go to the American Girl Store in Atlanta for a while, so we decided it would be fun to take both girls this year for their birthdays.  Sophie's is in June so just works better to take them at the same time.

 It is still hard for me to believe that my first born is 9 years old.  LIKE 9......  That is 1 year before 10.... last year in single digits.... I still get teary eyed thinking about it.  Each year my children get older, I am happy and thankful they are alive and able to grow older, but then I am sad that they aren't staying little.  

I thought I would share a picture from each of her birthday parties....

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday (she was sick... started running a fever that morning)

3rd Birthday

4th Birthday

5th Birthday

6th Birthday

 ....7th Birthday....

8th Birthday

9th Birthday

 Heidi Leigh,
     Wow!  These past 9 years have FLOWN by.  You were the first child that completely stole my heart.  I wanted to hold you forever and never let go.  I remember I always enjoyed just you, but I knew that your Daddy and I both wanted you to have a brother or sister.  I was never ready for another child because I enjoyed you so very much, but when you were two I remember thinking that you were already the age that most people are when they have a new sibling, so that was when we started talking about bringing Kman into our family.  It would have been very easy to just have you by yourself forever and ever because you were so very special.  (But could you imagine how very boring our days would be without the entertainment of Karter and Sophie :)?).
      You are beautiful, intelligent, loving, kind, selfless, giving, caring, shy, responsible, and every good word you can think of that is who you are.  You get a little crazy around your brother and sister because you say they drive you absolutely nuts.  Your heart is so big and cares so much for others.  You not only are a people lover, but a huge animal lover.  It doesn't matter what kind of animal it is, you are going to care for it. 
      You do NOT like getting in trouble (& you rarely do unless it involves your brother and sister or being sassy).  You have become sassier with age (Babee says that is because you are just like I was) and that gets you in some trouble.  Other than that you are the picture perfect child and I could have 15 of you. 
      I love that you still let me pick out your clothes most days.  Even on days you don't want to wear what I have out you find a way to kindly tell me you want to wear something else because you are afraid it will hurt my feelings. 
     I love that you are still a Mama's girl.  You love to sleep with me when your Daddy is gone and love to snuggle. 
     I love that you take SOOOOO many selfies.  My phone is FULL of selfie pictures of you. 
     I love that you are a good eater.  It is so much easier to feed you and Sophie than it is Karter. 
     I love your skin tone.  You tan so easy and it is beautiful. 
     I love that your Uncle KyKy is still one of your best buddies.  You could spend all day with him and love every minute of it.
     I love you for you.

 I love you baby girl!!!

Love, Mommy

 You were so excited about becoming a big sister :).